2008-01-06 Bulletin

Welcome to worship today at Bethel as we begin the New Year in worship of our great and awesome God. Today we begin a series of messages based on the Gospel of Mark, seeing and hearing Jesus our Lord. May you be blessed in our worship today and filled with awe. Do join us for fellowship and refreshments in the fellowship hall after the morning service.

Our Church Family

This week please remember Lorraine Havinga in your prayers.

Ruth Sluys is in the local hospital and is on oxygen as she is short of breath, but may have returned home by today (Sunday). Pastor Peter's sister in Holland has passed away on New Year’s Day. Our strength and deep-seated joy is that she went to live with Jesus with her younger brother and parents even though we will miss her. We thank the many of you who visited Ruth and helped Peter to enjoy some variants of his own cooking skills.

Paul Prins was recently diagnosed with some blockage of the heart arteries. This Tuesday he goes to Edmonton for an angiogram and possible angioplasty. There is always some concern for procedures like this but we trust in God’s healing grace that the problem can be corrected.

Hilda Zuidhof continues to recover from her surgery in the Red Deer hospital. May God grant healing and strength.

Thank you

To everyone who brought baked goodies for our times of fellowship during the Christmas season. They were delicious and enjoyed by all! Please remember to pick up your tins or containers from the kitchen.

The 2008 Christian Reformed Church Yearbook

Will be available soon. All those who would like to order a copy, please talk to Cindy or Dana before January 28th.

Booking the church facilities:

If you need to book any of the church facilities for a private function, please do this through the church secretaries (Cindy or Dana at 782-6400). If we are not in to take your call, please leave a message and we will get back to you to confirm your booking. Thank you!

BETHEL YOUTH NEWS

Tuesday Night Youth

will meet this Tuesday, January 8th. Doors open at 7:00p.m.

Attention young people in grades 9-12:

Neerlandia CRC Youth group is hosting a winter retreat on February 15th – 17th, 2008. You are invited to join them for a weekend of great workshops, worship and fun activities. The cost is only $50. For brochures and more information see your youth leader.

The Truth Project.

For any Young Adults who have not yet signed up, you can still plan to be a part of The Truth Project study group starting in the New Year. If interested, please call Henry or Liz Stad at 782-3444. We will be starting this study in January and are planning on meeting 2 times per month. The evening of the week is yet to be determined. Why not start the year seeking God to transform your life! Please prayerfully consider attending.

Mexico Mission Trip:

The next meeting will be on Monday, January 14th at 7:30 p.m. Important forms will be handed out, so your attendance is required!

Grades 3 - 6 Sunday School

Will begin again this Sunday, January 6th. Grades 3 and 4 will be having classes together, meeting in room # 6 (the old library) and will be led by Mr. Rod Venhuis. Grades 5 and 6 will be having classes together, meeting in room # 12 (next to council room) and will be led by Mrs. Ann Wildeboer. Please be reminded that teachers will leave during the first verse of the song of response and the children will leave during the last verse, and will be finished classes approximately 45 minutes after leaving the sanctuary.

Cadets

Our annual bottle and battery drive will be held on January 12th at 8:30 a.m. at Herman Scholing’s shop so please save your bottles and batteries for that day. If anyone from the congregation has bottles or batteries for pick up please phone, either Roger Swier at 782-5722, Grant Zuidhof at 782-4002, Bryan Noordhof at 885-2715 or 403-466-0287, Trent Scholing at 782-5456.

Commissioning Service:

In the fall, Ron deVries began work as Classis Alberta North's new Youth Ministry Consultant. Already he has begun making contacts with our youth pastors and leaders and networking together. Please join the Classical Youth Ministry Committee on Sunday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Covenant CRC for a formal commissioning of Ron and take the opportunity to encourage, support, and get to know him and his family better.

The Lacombe Christian Women’s Club presents "For the New Year"

On Tuesday January 15,at the Lacombe Kozy Korner, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

"Refreshing"- From teas to pottery with Marlene, from "The Walrus and The Carpenter", Ponoka.

"Reflections" - Guest speaker Jo Ann Richards relates the twists during The Ride of My Life.

Prayer for the Persecuted Church

India

During riots in the province of Orissa, during Christmas Eve, 90 churches burned down and 600 houses were robbed and set on fire. It is said that 5000 Christians are victims; many of which fled into the forests where they were hungry and scared. While the government promised protection and help, the Christian minority does not expect much of that, because the local police are biased toward the Hindus. Forty times more Hindus live in Orissa as Christians. There is regular violence against Christians but not at this scale. Pray that the promised governmental help will get to the victims, especially to those Christians still hiding in the forests. Continue to pray that Christians in India can feel secure. Remember the growing church in India so that the love of Jesus may reach many more people.

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity and love to cuddle babies and play with toddlers?

The Keys to Young Parenting program at the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre is seeking volunteer childcare providers once per week on Wednesdays afternoons for 15 weeks, beginning March 5th. We are also looking for transportation providers to bring parents to and from the program. This free program provides parenting and life skills to young parents in a supportive Christian environment. We are also now taking pre-registrations for parents up to 25 years of age who are interested in taking the program. Please call Kathy Schultz or Charlene Schatz at 343-1611.

SERVICE & LEARNING OPPORTUNITY: HONDURAS WATER PROJECT 2008

Clean water, improved health, and hope for a Honduran village. A possible life-changing experience for the team participants. That’s what awaits the members of the 14th Honduras Water Service and Learning Project. A partnership of NADC, CRWRC, and the King’s University College the project takes place during 3 ½ weeks of May. Team building and orientation t is planned for several evenings in March. If you are interested in joining this great short-term mission experience, please call Henry @ 780-423-0456 for more information and an application form, or send your request to nadmc@telus.net. The deadline for applications is January 16, 2008. Space is limited.

Corn in your Tank or Justice for Dinner: Critical Challenges to Food Security

Please join us for an important conversation with Cathy Campbell, theologian and author of Stations of the Banquet, social activist Cathleen Kneen, and Stu Clarke, policy analyst with Canadian Food grains Bank. This event takes place Wednesday evening, January 16, 7:30 at The King’s University College (9125 – 50 street). For more information please contact roy.berkenbosch@kingsu.ca